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Hagy and Stalter Finalists for Byron Nelson Award

Prestigious award given annually to senior for their academics, golf, character, integrity and citizenship.

By Cal Athletics on Tue, April 08, 2014

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NORMAN, Okla. Ė Cal seniors Brandon Hagy and JoŽl Stalter were named as two of five finalists Tuesday for the 2014 Byron Nelson Award presented by Cleveland Golf/Srixon, in connection with the Four Seasons Resort and Club Las Cosinas and the Salesmanship Club of Dallas.

“It’s an incredible honor to be named a finalist for the Byron Nelson Award,” Hagy said. “Mr. Nelson embodied what a true gentleman was and what the game of golf is truly about.”

“I’m honored to be a finalist for the Byron Nelson Award,” Stalter said. “It means a lot to me to be recognized not just as a golfer but rather as a person.”

Honored to be named a finalist for the @ByronNelsonAwrd ! Mr. Nelson embodied what a true gentleman is on and off the course

Candidates for the Byron Nelson Award in which the 2014 recipient will be named May 1 must be a graduating senior. The selection committee considers equally a nominee’s entire collegiate academic and golf career as well as his character and integrity while in college. Particular consideration is given to a nominee’s good citizenship, as portrayed by Mr. Byron Nelson over the course of his life and golf career.

“It’s an exciting time in our program for a number of reasons, but we are really proud of the fact that both Brandon Hagy and JoŽl Stalter are two of five national finalists for the Byron Nelson Award,” Cal head coach Steve Desimone said. “They are both very deserving and meet all the criteria. They’ve both played great golf throughout their collegiate career, are tremendous students, and are at the top in both citizenship and community service areas.”

“I’m very proud of them,” Desimone added. “It wouldn’t surprise me if one of them or both were to win. I’d love to see co-awards go to Brandon and JoŽl, but all I know is it’s great for them and obviously it’s a great day for the program.”

Stalter and Hagy are also both national player of the year candidates in 2013-14. Each has won three times this season, including one occasion in which they shared individual medalist honors at the Arizona Intercollegiate. Hagy also won at the Jack Nicklaus Invitational and in his most recent event at the Aggie Invitational. Stalter picked up additional victories at the Alister MacKenzie Invitational and National Invitational Tournament.

Hagy is nation’s No. 3 and No. 4 ranked player, respectively, in the most recent Golfstat and Golfweek/Sagarin rankings released earlier this week. Stalter is No. 23 according to Golfweek/Sagarin and No. 27 by Golfstat.

Hagy has won four times in his career, while finishing in the top five 17 times and the top 10 on 21 occasions. Stalter is a five-time career winner with 13 top-five finishes and 16 top-10 showings.

Cal is the nation’s No. 2 collegiate team in the latest Golf World/Nike Golf poll, while ranking No. 3 according to GolfStat and No. 5 by Golfweek/Sagarin. The Golden Bears have won six times in 10 events this season and conclude their regular-season this Saturday-Sunday at the Western Intercollegiate hosted by San Jose State at Pasatiempo Golf Club.